The other day I asked what hard rock metal albums were the biggest disappointments to you. So now I am asking the opposite, what hard rock/metal album(s) was the biggest pleasant surprise to you?
These are ones that come to my mind:
Kiss-Revenge
Autograph-Loud and clear
Motorhead-Bastards
AC/DC-Stiff upper lip
Ozzy-No more tears
Iron Maiden-Brave new world
Cinderella-Long cold winter
Sodom-Persecution Mania
Testament-Low
Exodus-Fabulous Disaster
WASP-Unholy Terror
I think all of these were good surprises because they all came after weak or just okay albums.
Sgt. Fluffy-Sound of white was very good. Have to disagree about COC though. I loved their early stuff and couldn't believe it when they switched styles. I like the stuff from Blind on, but Technocracy and Animosity were really energetic albums.
ReplyDeleteI didn't hear Tempo of the damned, but I have heard nothing but good about it.
I don't know if it qualifies, but I was pleasantly surprised at Rush's "Feedback", their covers cd. I was quite prepared to be cynical about it, since I knew all of the songs from my teen years, but they erased any doubts. Another one that I wasn't expecting a lot from, either, but liked a lot: Ace Frehley's solo album.
ReplyDeleteOzzy for sure.
ReplyDeleteMy sis was a crazed fan over metal.
Every morning she would wake me up with Metallica
or Iron Maiden.... hahahaha
I'm with you on Kiss, that was much better than anyone expected after the horrid Hot in the Shade. Vic & Del makes a great point about the Creatures release, too.
ReplyDeleteFred is right on about Counterparts. Still no Caress of Steel or 2112, but it was better than schlock like Roll the Bones.
The Dickinson comments are good, too, I like his newer one even more in some ways (something about tyrrany in the title, I think, maybe Tyrrany of Souls)?
Here are my others:
Aeromsith, Honkin' on Bobo: Not stellar, but I appreciated this much more than the pop garbage of the late 90s.
Slayer, South of Heaven: I might be the only one who feels this way, but I thought this was a good step forward from great to greater when it would have been easy to rest on their laurels or just attempt a straight copy.
Def Leppard, Hysteria: Not nearly as good as Pyromania, no doubt ... but you are talking about expectations, and I expected this to totally suck after THAT much time in the studio. But it was damn good by almost any standard but the one they had set with High and Dry and Pyromania.
-- david
I am not sure if these fall into your category but Badlands was a pleasant surprise to me, as well as Tesla's Great Radio Controversy...more of a surprise that it was better than the previous album - in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI ama big Maiden fan, but must admit that the only Bruce solo album I have ever heard was the first one and that was what like 89 or 90? It was okay and I just always found better things to buy instead of taking a chance on one of solo albums.
ReplyDelete